Chapter Summaries

Yong trained his Great Matrix Heart and psychic power with the Stone Plate, then rode Gogoat down Laverre Mountain to the Rock Solid Gym. The chapter ended by describing the Gym’s formidable battle course, built to test challengers’ will.

• Yong emerged from the hidden cave after training with the Stone Plate and met Gogoat on the mountain road.
• Gogoat carried Yong down Laverre Mountain to the Rock Solid Gym, where Yong gave it Pokémon Food to take to his companions.
• The chapter described how wild Pokémon gathered safely near Yong’s companions on Laverre Mountain.
• The Kalos League’s leadership and the establishment of its eight official Gyms were outlined.
• Yong’s Rock Solid Gym was shown to have successive battle tests and imposing Pokémon statues designed to temper challengers’ will.

Yong returned to the Rock Solid Gym, where more Trainers had begun challenging it as they aimed for the Lumiose Conference. He reviewed the Gym’s training structure and its second-place ranking in Kalos, while considering the need to develop more elite-class Trainers.

• Yong returned to the Rock Solid Gym ahead of a booked challenger and checked on the recovering Shuckle of a Gym Trainer called A-Liang.
• Yong greeted the Gym’s apprentices and Trainers as he crossed the courtyard and training corridor.
• The chapter explained how the Ishida family’s influence and Yong’s reputation drew aspiring Trainers and allies to the Gym.
• Yong went to the third floor, the Gym’s core, after the chapter outlined its strict hierarchy and League evaluations.
• The Rock Solid Gym ranked second among Kalos’s Eight Gyms, behind Korrina’s Shalour Gym, and Yong needed more elite-class Trainers to advance his objective.

Yong returned to the Rock Solid Gym and learned that the day’s challenger was an Earl-ranked Trainer from the Battle Chateau. As Yong, Grant, and Kleavor watched the Gym’s battlefields, the challenger arrived.

• Yong reunited with Kleavor in the Lounge and heard how much Kleavor, Boldore, and Gligar had improved while training at the Gym.
• Grant told Yong that the challenger had earned the rank of Earl after starting out only the previous year, and Yong wondered whether Miss Siebold could recruit him to the Rock Solid Gym.
• Grant said Qingcao was on duty and praised the apprentice’s progress with his Onix.
• Yong, Grant, and Kleavor watched the three battlefields while the Gym prepared to assess the challenger.
• A teenage boy with short brown hair entered the Rock Solid Gym.

Falgar challenged the Rock Solid Gym, where apprentice Qingcao faced him with his Onix against Falgar’s Scraggy. After Onix caught Scraggy with a chained move, the Pokémon clashed in a dust-filled battle, and a bright light appeared as Qingcao sensed Scraggy evolving.

• Falgar arrived at the Rock Solid Gym and registered for a challenge with apprentice Qingcao.
• Grant and Yong watched Qingcao lead Falgar to the beginner battlefield, where Yong praised the apprentice’s potential and connection with Rock-type Pokémon.
• Qingcao sent out Onix, while Falgar chose his unevolved Scraggy, hoping the pressure of the battle would help it evolve.
• Scraggy used its speed and Fighting-type moves to put Onix on the defensive, but Qingcao ordered Onix to chain its moves and catch Scraggy with Bind.
• Qingcao ordered Onix to use Slam as Falgar had Scraggy counter with Drain Punch, and a brilliant light shone through the dust after their collision.

Falgar defeated Qingcao and climbed to the Rock Solid Gym’s second battlefield, where he reunited with Miss Siebold and learned she would fight with Marowak. Falgar sent out Drapion, and their one-Pokémon match was about to begin.

• Falgar’s newly evolved Scrafty defeated Qingcao’s Onix, and Qingcao congratulated him before directing him up the stairs.
• Yong and Grant discussed Falgar’s progress, Miss Siebold’s move from the Battle Chateau, and their plans for the Gym Ranking Tournament.
• Falgar climbed the steep stairway to the Intermediate Battlefield and greeted Miss Siebold, a former Battle Chateau prodigy who said the Rock Solid Gym gave her a clearer path forward.
• Miss Siebold announced a one-Pokémon match and sent out her level 56 Marowak.
• Falgar sent out Drapion to face Marowak.

Miss Siebold’s Marowak battled Falgar’s Drapion at the Rock Solid Gym and gained the upper hand through independent reactions and close-range attacks. Drapion fell, leaving Yong to wonder whether Falgar would be denied the chance to meet the Gym Leader.

• Falgar’s Drapion opened with Cross Poison, but Miss Siebold’s Marowak used Dig and Swords Dance before counterattacking with Bone Rush.
• Drapion trapped Marowak with Cross Poison and X-Scissor, then struck it with Night Slash and a follow-up Cross Poison that Protect blocked.
• Grant and Yong discussed how Miss Siebold let Marowak react independently rather than relying entirely on Trainer commands.
• Marowak charged Drapion, slipped inside its reach, and repeatedly hammered its tail joint with Bone Rush until Drapion crashed to the ground.
• Yong worried that Miss Siebold’s victory over the Three-Star Earl Falgar would hurt the Gym’s reputation, then thought it might advance the second-stage objective.

After Falgar lost to Miss Siebold at the Rock Solid Gym, he resolved to return and face Mr. Ishida, while Yong arranged the next day's Gym battles. Yong then visited the training cave, where Gligar had evolved into Gliscor and Boldore continued training the Gym's Pokémon.

• Miss Siebold told Falgar that Mr. Ishida had defeated her without losing a Pokémon, and Falgar vowed to return after understanding her warning.
• Yong learned that two challengers were booked for the next day, including one with three Badges and an Iceberg Badge, and assigned both battles to Grant.
• Yong finished his Gym duties, greeted the Pokémon in the backyard, and went to the cave with Kleavor.
• Gliscor greeted Yong, who noted that she had reached level 46 after learning Crabhammer and evolving from Gligar.
• Yong thanked level-50 Boldore for supervising Gliscor, Kleavor, and the League-supplied Pokémon as they trained.

Yong prepared Boldore to gather the pure minerals it needed to evolve, while the story shifted to Shalour City and Korrina’s frustration over being stood up. Shunsuke reminded Korrina of the newly announced Pokémon World Championships, whose announcement had captured the attention of Trainers across the world.

• Yong groomed Boldore and arranged for Uncle Zhibian to take it to the Underground Mine to absorb pure minerals and build up energy.
• Yong recalled Boldore and began a rigorous training session.
• The narration explained how Yong’s demonstrations of Mega Evolution had accelerated Kalos’s research and the discovery of Key Stones and Mega Stones.
• Korrina angrily complained that Mutou had stood her up, while Shunsuke reminded her she had not yet passed the Inspector’s assessment to become Shalour Gym Leader.
• Shunsuke reminded Korrina about the Pokémon World Championships, announced by a committee formed by Pokémon League regions across the eastern and western hemispheres.

The Pokémon League announced the Pokémon World Championships, an open-ended global ranking tournament whose sole current competitor was Hoenn Champion Steven. Korrina looked forward to entering the Kalos Battle Festival, while Yong returned home to find his family gathered and his father waiting to tell him something.

• The Pokémon League announced the Pokémon World Championships, dividing registered Trainers into four classes and making Steven the first-ranked Trainer and sole current member of the Masters Eight.
• Korrina eagerly asked Shunsuke when the Kalos Battle Festival would start, but he told her to prepare to accept a Gym challenger.
• Yong left the Gym and walked through Laverre City, enjoying the peaceful sight of humans and Pokémon living together.
• Yong arrived home and greeted Metagross, who had been staying at the Shiyan Company with Uncle Zhibian.
• Yong found his mother preparing dinner and his father waiting with Uncle Zhibian, and his father told him to wash up because he had something to discuss.

Over dinner, Yong told his family that a golden age of powerful Trainers and Champions was approaching, then prepared for the day’s Gym challengers at the Rock Solid Gym. Watching novice Trainer Art defeat a Gym Apprentice, Yong decided to let him advance so he could learn not to be too rash.

• Yong discussed the Pokémon World Championships with his family and argued that the coming era could produce a Champion for every region.
• The next day, Yong arrived early at the Rock Solid Gym while Kleavor and Gliscor rested nearby.
• Art challenged the Gym with his level 25 Frogadier and defeated a level 20 Geodude with Water Pulse.
• Yong called Grant and asked him to let Art advance, believing the novice needed to learn from his overconfidence.

Art challenged the Rock Solid Gym and defeated Grant’s Geodude to reach the summit, where he faced Gym Leader Shiyan Yong. Yong’s Geodude quickly knocked out Art’s Frogadier, leaving the Gym battle underway.

• Art challenged Grant and used Frogadier to defeat his Geodude after Grant deliberately sent it rolling into a pit.
• Art reached the Final Battlefield and met the Rock Solid Gym Leader, Shiyan Yong.
• The referee announced a two-on-two match in which only Art could switch Pokémon.
• Art sent out his level 26 Frogadier against Yong’s level 25 Geodude and ordered Water Gun.
• Yong’s Geodude used Rollout to break through Water Gun, launched itself into the air, and knocked Frogadier unconscious.

Yong’s Geodude defeated Art’s Frogadier and Exeggcute in a Gym battle, demonstrating how endurance, preparation, and move tactics could overcome type and level advantages. After Geodude collapsed from its injuries, Yong praised it and let it rest, leaving the Pokémon as a future mainstay of Rock Solid Gym.

• Qingcao declared Frogadier unable to battle after Geodude knocked it out with Rollout, and Yong explained how Art’s overconfidence and Geodude’s strength had decided the match.
• Art sent out Exeggcute for the second round, and Yong ordered Geodude to use Rollout.
• Exeggcute restrained Geodude with Confusion and hit it with Bullet Seed, but Geodude endured the super-effective attack using Iron Defense.
• Geodude broke free, used Dig to surprise Exeggcute, and defeated it with Fire Punch despite being drained by Mega Drain.
• Yong praised the exhausted Geodude, recalled it to rest, and reflected that it would become a valuable mainstay of Rock Solid Gym.

After defeating Art, Yong advised him on how to develop Frogadier and Exeggcute before preparing for another Gym challenge. He visited the Pokémon training in the mountain valley, where his partners gathered happily to share the food he brought.

• Yong defeated Art and offered guidance on using Frogadier as an attacker and Exeggcute for field control, encouraging Art not to rush their evolution.
• Art thanked Gym Leader Ishida and promised to return with stronger Pokémon, ending the Gym battle.
• Yong chose Gliscor for his afternoon challenge against a challenger who had earned three Badges, then recalled it and headed to the Back Mountain.
• Yong remembered his earlier Kalos tournament battles against Wulfric and Korrina, whose Avalugg and Mega-Evolved Lucario had tested and defeated his team.
• Yong reached the valley where his Pokémon trained, and Excadrill welcomed him before the others gathered as he unpacked food prepared by Mom.

Yong fed his Pokémon specialized resources, then checked on Swampert as it recovered from the Stone Plate’s effects and thanked Steelix for guarding it. Back at the Rock Solid Gym, Tidis began a challenge while Yong watched from the Lounge with Larvesta, whose evolution was near.

• Yong distributed tailored rocks, minerals, and other treats to his Pokémon, including Supreme Fire Stones for Larvesta and a pink crystal diamond for Claydol.
• Yong checked on Swampert, learned its rocky skin still peeled away after using the Stone Plate, and gave it food and minerals.
• Steelix arrived after guarding the plate and caring for Swampert, and Yong thanked it for its help.
• Tidis entered the Rock Solid Gym to challenge it early while Warren went to the spectator stands, doubtful that he could win.
• Yong watched Tidis head to the beginner arena while Larvesta rested in his arms at Lv59, close to evolving.

Tidis defeated Grant’s Tyrunt in the Rock Solid Gym’s intermediate arena and earned the right to continue toward the Gym Leader. Yong watched the battle, judged that Tidis’s Gyarados had the advantage, and left the Lounge to prepare Gliscor for a later match.

• Tidis defeated Yong’s Geodude with Crawdaunt and advanced to the intermediate arena, where Grant accepted his one-Pokémon challenge.
• Tidis sent out his level 40 Gyarados against Grant’s level 33 Tyrunt, and Yong recognized Gyarados’s type, level, and ability advantages.
• Tidis opened with Waterfall and Aqua Tail, while Grant ordered Tyrunt to use Bulldoze and Ancient Power.
• Gyarados overpowered Tyrunt’s Ancient Power and knocked it unconscious, winning the match.
• Grant let Tidis proceed toward the Gym Leader, and Yong left the Lounge with Gliscor while Larvesta stayed behind.

Tidis challenged Shiyan Yong at the Rock Solid Gym, hoping to prove himself as a Water-type specialist. Yong sent out Onix first, and the battle began with Gyarados attacking as Onix prepared a counter.

• Tidis reached the Final Battlefield and introduced himself to Shiyan Yong, declaring his dream of becoming a Water-type Pokémon Master.
• The referee announced a three-on-three Gym battle, with only Tidis allowed to switch Pokémon.
• Yong sent out a level 40 Onix, and Tidis chose Gyarados for the first round.
• Tidis ordered Hydro Pump, but Onix dodged and retaliated with Rock Slide.
• Gyarados countered with Waterfall and surged above Onix, but Yong commanded Onix to use Head Smash.

Tidis’s Gyarados was knocked out by Yong’s Onix, but Tidis rallied with Ludicolo and used Rain Dance to turn the battle in his favor. Ludicolo defeated Onix with Energy Ball, leaving the match poised for the next Pokémon.

• Onix defeated Tidis’s Gyarados with Head Smash, taking the first win for Yong.
• Encouraged by Warren, Tidis sent out Ludicolo to face Onix.
• Yong opened the arena roof, and Tidis had Ludicolo use Grass Knot to trip and bind Onix.
• Tidis’s Ludicolo summoned rain with Rain Dance, strengthening its hold on Onix and powering up its Water-type attack.
• Onix broke free with Sand Tomb, avoided most of Hydro Pump, and countered with Rock Slide.
• Ludicolo struck Onix with Energy Ball, knocking it out in the muddy arena.

Yong sent out his Gliscor to face Tidis's Ludicolo after Onix lost, and Gliscor used Acrobatics to evade Ludicolo's attacks and land a decisive X-Scissor. Ludicolo fainted, giving Yong the victory in the match.

• Tidis's Ludicolo defeated Yong's Onix, and Yong recalled Onix after praising its effort.
• Yong sent out his Gliscor, and Tidis eagerly accepted the challenge of facing one of Yong's own Pokémon.
• Tidis ordered Ludicolo to use Icy Wind and then Hydro Pump, but Gliscor used Acrobatics to evade both attacks and rush toward Ludicolo.
• Yong boosted Gliscor's speed with Quick Attack and ordered X-Scissor, which struck Ludicolo and sent it flying.
• Gliscor attacked Ludicolo with a second X-Scissor as it tried to recover, and Ludicolo fainted.

Gliscor defeated Tidis's Ludicolo, but Tidis sent out the rare and powerful Primarina as his final Pokémon. Gliscor and Primarina traded attacks, and their first exchange ended with Gliscor at a slight disadvantage.

• Gliscor defeated Ludicolo, reached Lv47, and earned training points and experience.
• Tidis sent out Primarina as the rain faded, surprising Yong and Warren.
• Yong recognized Primarina and explained that he had seen an illustration of it in a ship's log.
• Yong learned Primarina's details and noted that the Rock Field gave it an obvious weakness.
• Gliscor's Quick Attack was stopped by Disarming Voice, and Primarina struck it with Sparkling Aria.
• Gliscor dodged the next bubble barrage and tried Cross Poison, but Primarina blocked it with bubbles.

Yong’s Gliscor defeated Tidis’s Primarina, and Yong awarded Tidis the Rock Solid Badge for his performance. After Tidis left with Warren, the referee warned Yong that the Gym’s low challenge pass rate could hurt its upcoming evaluation and asked how he would handle the Nurse Joy Inspector.

• Yong directed Gliscor to break through Primarina’s Sparkling Aria with Swift and land a Cross Poison that poisoned Primarina.
• Gliscor dodged Primarina’s Icy Wind and struck again with Cross Poison, knocking Primarina unconscious and winning the battle.
• Yong praised Gliscor, while Tidis congratulated Primarina and regained his spirits after losing.
• Yong gave Tidis the Rock Solid Badge, recognizing his earlier victory over Onix and his performance in the challenge.
• After Tidis and Warren departed, the referee warned Yong about the Gym’s low pass rate and asked how he would face the Nurse Joy Inspector.